Concordia partners with the Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul on French-language and arts immersion program

Next spring, Concordia will offer Fine Arts students the chance to deepen both their creative practice and their French-language skills through a new five-week program in Charlevoix, Q.C.

Studio Baie-Saint-Paul is a collaboration between the Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul and three Concordia units: the Faculty of Fine Arts, Réussir en français and the Département d’études françaises.

The curriculum blends language instruction with the arts, offering French-language learning alongside opportunities for creative expression and cultural discovery. Participants will also engage with local artists, expand their professional networks and experience the vibrant arts scene and natural beauty of the Charlevoix region. The program will conclude with a studio visit at the museum, where students will present their work in French.

The program reflects Concordia’s commitment to supporting its students in developing skills that will serve them throughout their personal, academic and professional journeys, says Isabel Dunnigan, associate vice-president of executive and professional programs and valorisation du français.

“It is also part of Réussir en français’ ongoing efforts to strengthen French-language learning while fostering meaningful collaborations with communities across Quebec, ensuring that the vitality of French is supported both in Montreal and in the regions,” she added.

Strengthening connections

Recognized as one of Canada’s cultural capitals, Baie-Saint-Paul offers an ideal backdrop with its striking landscapes, numerous galleries and international art festival, the Symposium international d'art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul.

The program, set to return annually, gives students a transformative experience while strengthening ties with the region’s cultural community. It also brings visibility to local institutions and supports cultural tourism in Charlevoix.

The collaboration builds on Concordia’s effort to make French accessible in ways that resonate with students’ areas of study. “By weaving language-learning into the arts, we’re showing that French is more than a skill – it’s a medium of creation, collaboration and discovery,” said Annie Gérin, dean of the faculty.

The program targets anglophone and allophone Fine Arts students who are enthusiastic about the program’s goals and the opportunity to bridge language learning and professional artistic practice.

Find out more about Studio Baie-Saint-Paul.

To support the initiative, contact Marc Wieser., principal director of development at the Faculty of Fine Arts and University Advancement: marc.wieser@concordia.ca.